maschera Italian · revision 39248

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=inherited|attested=before 1313, Florentine commentary|origins=la-lat masca}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈmas.ke.ra/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''maschera''' ''f'' (plural maschere, diminutive mascherina)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian forms include [[m|roa-oit|mascara]] and [[m|roa-oit|maschare]].^(TLIO)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The form ''mascara'' is still archaic or regional.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-med|mascara|t=spectre, demon]], recorded at the end of the 12th century in Uguccione da Pisa as a gloss on [[la|larva|t=ghost]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(TLIO)^(Wiktionary) The word is usually connected with [[la-lat|masca|t=witch, ghost]], which the Edict of Rothari (643) gives as an equivalent of [[m|la|striga|t=witch]]; it is still the common word for a witch in the north-west: [[pms|masca]], [[lij|masca]] and [[oc|masca]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020) Nocentini points out that there is a gap in date, form and meaning between that word and the Italian one.^(Nocentini 2010) Prati and DELI explain the ending as the suffix of [[gazzera]].^(Prati 1951|642)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The origin is disputed.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * Nocentini and Devoto–Oli derive the word from [[gem-pro|*maska]];^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary gives [[gmw-pro|*maskā|t=mesh]], from netting worn over the face.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ * Hubschmid, followed by DELI as compatible with the first view, assumed a pre-Roman word for “black”, seen in Gallo-Romance dialect words for blackening and for a dark patch, from the custom of blackening the face with soot.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ * Meyer-Lübke derived the word from [[ar|مسخرة|tr=masḵara|t=buffoon]], and Corominas thought the Arabic word blended with the Late Latin word;^(REW 1935)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Prati 1951|642) Prati rejects the Arabic source, and Nocentini finds no support for it in the documents.^(REW 1935)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Prati 1951|642)

+

+ [[fr|masque]], [[es|máscara]], [[pt|máscara]] and [[ca|màscara]] are borrowed from Italian, and English [[m|en|mask]] came through French in the 1530s.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is a Florentine commentary written before 1313, for an object that covers the face and the head and changes one's appearance, at feasts or, of ancient times, in the theatre; commentators on Dante also used it to gloss ''larva''.^(TLIO) DELI first finds it in Boccaccio's ''Decameron'' (1348–1353), where one mask “had a devil's face and was horned” (''La maschera avea viso di diavolo, ed era cornuta'').^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word soon covered the disguise of the whole person (1530, Marin Sanudo) and the masked person (before 1529, Baldassarre Castiglione); in 1582 it named a stock character of the theatre, such as those of the commedia dell'arte.^(DELI 1999) A plaster or bronze cast of a dead person's face is called a ''maschera'' from the early 15th century (Cennino Cennini), and the figurative sense of a hypocritical attitude is recorded in 1680.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The theatre usher has been called ''maschera'' since 1847: until the end of the 18th century ushers wore a mask so that they could settle quarrels over seats without being recognised.^(DELI 1999)^(Gabrielli 2020) The gas mask (''maschere preservatrici'', 1919, D'Annunzio) took its name from a metaphor shared by all the Allies;^(DELI 1999) English had ''anti-poison gas mask'' from 1915.^(DELI 1999) Derivatives followed from the 16th century: [[mascherare]] (''mascarate'' in a chronicle of Todi for 1519), [[mascherata]] (1544) and [[mascherina]].^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * End of the 12th century – Medieval Latin ''mascara'' glosses ''larva'' in Uguccione da Pisa.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * Before 1313 – First Italian record, in a Florentine commentary.^(TLIO)

+ * 1348–1353 – Boccaccio's ''Decameron'' uses ''maschera''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Early 15th century – Cennino Cennini uses the word for a death mask.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1530s – English ''mask'' is recorded, through French.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1582 – The word names a stock character of the theatre.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1680 – The figurative sense of a pretence appears.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1847 – ''Maschera'' names a theatre usher.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1919 – D'Annunzio writes of protective masks against gas.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|mask]]: a false face of papier-mâché, plastic, wood or other material, with holes for the eyes and mouth, worn for play, ritual or the stage: ''Per la festa si è messo una maschera da lupo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A cast of a dead person's face in plaster, bronze or another material.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DELI 1999)

+ # A disguise covering the whole person, especially at [[carnevale]], and the person who wears it: ''Le maschere ballavano in piazza fino all'alba.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(theatre)'' A stock character of the Italian commedia dell'arte, with a fixed name and costume, often linked to a city or region.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A false appearance, a [[m|en|pretence]]: ''Dietro quella maschera di allegria si nascondeva la paura.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # A face that strongly expresses a feeling.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(DELI 1999)

+ # A protective device worn over the face: ''maschera antigas'', a mask for divers or fencers.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # A layer of cosmetic cream or mud applied to the face.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # In a theatre or cinema, an [[m|en|usher]] who checks tickets and shows people to their seats.^(DELI 1999)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mascherare]]

+ * [[mascherata]]

+ * [[mascherina]]

+ * [[mascherone]]

+ * [[mascheramento]]

+ * [[smascherare]]

+ * [[mascheraio]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fr|masque]]

+ * [[en|mask]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Set phrases include ''ballo in maschera'' (masked ball), ''gettare la maschera'' (to drop one's pretence) and ''giù la maschera!'' (stop pretending!).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}